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The cases treated consisted of the following:—Tuberculous
joints 6; anterior poliomyelitis 4; spastic diplegia 3; osteomyelitis
2; torticollis 2; talipes 2; erb's paralysis 1; sclatter's diseases 1;
congenital facial paralysis 1; congenital dislocation of hip 1; other
conditions 9.
Treatment consisted of operative measures, conservative
treatment by plaster and other appliances, and other measures.
Out-patients. The number of West Ham children who
attended the Remedial Clinic as out-patients during the year was
110. These children made 2,324 attendances, giving an average
of 21 attendances per patient. The results of treatment were as
follows:—
Cured 31, much improved 51, improved 27, not improved 1.
Table XVII(a) gives the result of treatment in the more
important groups of cases.
In many cases treatment was mainly by remedial exercises
and massage, but a few patients were treated by diathermy.
(i) Heart disease and rheumatism. During the year 1937
the number of children who were discovered to be suffering from
organic heart lesions sufficiently severe to require treatment was
123. Of these 74 were discovered at routine inspections and 49
at special inspections. In addition 117 children were found to be
suffering from organic lesions which were not sufficiently severe
to require treatment. Among children attending secondary schools
only one was discovered with a heart lesion which was sufficiently
severe to require treatment.
Table XVIII gives particulars of the incidence of organic
heart lesions during the last 12 years.
A special clinic for the treatment of heart disease and
rheumatism has not yet been established in the borough. For a
number of years, however, an attempt has been made to give
these children the careful attention which they merit. Cases of
this type, from whatever source referred, are examined by the
Chief Assistant School Medical Officer and recommendations are
made to parents and teachers regarding the treatment which
should be adopted. In addition certain children are sent for
in-patient treatment at various heart hospital schools; the majority
of the girls being sent to West Wickham and of the boys
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